City prepares to maintain safety at Moonrise Festival

Officials concerned about possible drug use

One of the country's largest music festivals is kicking off in Baltimore this weekend, but it's not all about the fun. Safety is top of mind for city officials because of concerns about drug use after incidents at similar events across the country. Pimlico Race Course will turn into the Moonrise Festival this weekend. It's one of the largest electronic dance music parties in the country with more than 100,000 people expected to attend. The line to get wristbands Friday night was already hundreds deep.

One of the country's largest music festivals is kicking off in Baltimore this weekend, but it's not all about the fun.

Safety is top of mind for city officials because of concerns about drug use after incidents at similar events across the country.

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Pimlico Race Course will turn into the Moonrise Festival this weekend. It's one of the largest electronic dance music parties in the country with more than 100,000 people expected to attend. The line to get wristbands Friday night was already hundreds deep.

"We encourage people to come out and have a good time, but we also want to advise people not to partake in any reckless behavior that would lead them to become a patient," Baltimore City Fire Department spokesman Samuel Johnson said.

Historically, these types of music festivals can coincide with psychedelic drug use. At last year's Moonrise, Baltimore City fire officials said paramedics treated 500 people -- 50 were hospitalized for various ailments.

Last weekend, three people overdosed and died at a festival in California.

Ecstasy or Molly is a popular drug of choice, but experts said there's a trend of fake Molly being sold as a combination of bath salts and powdered caffeine.

"So they think it's doing what Ecstasy should do, which is make everything bright and loud and also give you all this energy, when in reality, what you're doing is overdosing, and within a short period of time, you're going out," substance-abuse counselor Mike Gimbel said.

This year, the Fire Department is the lead emergency-response agency with 75 emergency-medical technicians who will be on hand in tent hospitals and on mobile patrols.

"We'll have bike medics going through the crowds to make sure they are maintaining situational awareness," Johnson said.

On its website, Moonrise organizers urge festival attendees to stay healthy and hydrated and "make smart decisions for yourself and help your friends make smart decisions, too, so we see you back for Moonrise Festival 2017."

Baltimore police said they have also added resources for the festival, which takes place 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.